System will warn

The Willwarn system, which stands for Wireless Local Danger Warning, was developed from European research. The five cars involved in the testing used a WLAN-based radio technology using the Car-2-X Communication system to transmit information on fog, black ice or obstacles on the road to cars approaching the problem .

It gives drivers time to slow down and prevent further accidents, or find an alternate route.

can send warnings to vehicles in a 500-metre radius. Once outside the car's range, other cars pass on the warnings.

The information is provided through ABS, ESP steer angle sensors or the navigation system, so no extra sensors are needed.

The technology was already developed in research six years ago, sending the first inter-communicating vehicle fleet out on the road.

DaimlerChrysler says it is important to expand its technology to other companies.

"The system needs to work in a community of traffic," Fadeyev says. "Other manufacturers need to integrate it in their cars."

He says it is not known at this time when the technology will be included in production models.

ASHLEE PLEFFER